Radioactive water plan sidelines science

In their most straightforward engagement to date over the Japanese decision to release radioactive waste water into the sea, Chinese and Japanese representatives made dramatically divergent statements on the matter at the 31st meeting of signatory countries to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Japanese representative tried to emphasize the "harmlessness" of the release, the "transparency" that Tokyo has demonstrated, and the "endorsement" of the plan by the International Atomic Energy Agency. His Chinese counterpart argued the claims were "completely inconsistent with facts", and "intentionally misleading", and he urged the Japanese authorities to abandon its "wrong" decision.

Such an exchange will be viewed through a political prism in the present context of the cooling China-Japan relationship, especially as the average Chinese see Japan as having turned against their country amid the Western attempt to contain China. But at stake is a matter of potentially significant long-term consequences for both countries, the region, even the world, which brooks no politicization. It is a decision of the utmost importance that must be dealt with in strict accordance with science.